Deputies distribute Thanksgiving dinners, warm sweets on frigid night in Elsa

ELSA — With rosy cheeks and bundles of sweaters, residents from across the Rio Grande Valley gathered here to enjoy fall-themed festivities in the South Texas cold (50 degrees), and even walked away with a turkey.

This was the vibe here at The Garden and Pacific Trails in Elsa on Wednesday where the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office hosted its annual Harvest Fest.

Children stared in awe as Charlie Brown, Lucy, Snoopy and Linus walked around the grounds taking pictures with attendees.

Charlie Brown and his friends greeted residents at the Harvest Fest on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, in Elsa. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])

Vendors of various sweets, including cupcakes, cotton candy and hot chocolate were lined up around the grounds for attendees to stop and enjoy.

Then there were the turkeys. Hundreds and hundreds of turkeys.

Sheriff J.E. “Eddie” Guerra said they had enough to give 1,000 turkeys away to families in need at the festival. His agency’s community foundation provided 250.

The others were provided by community sponsors including — among many others — L&F Distributors, the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley, Mi Casita Adult Day Care and the Bravo family, which also donated several pies for a cakewalk. They are the family of Benito Eduardo Bravo, a sheriff’s deputy who was killed in the line of duty in 1987.

“It’s always nice to give out these turkeys — especially this year with the cost of all goods going up,” Guerra said. “We’re just happy that we can make at least 1,000 families in Hidalgo County happy and they’ll be able to share in a Thanksgiving meal at no cost to them.”

Magdalena Casas of San Carlos attended the Harvest Fest in Elsa on the cold Wednesday evening and agreed that every little bit helps.

Magdalena Casas of San Carlos enjoys cotton candy while she waits in line to get a free turkey and trimmings at the Harvest Fest on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, in Elsa. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])

“Everything is so expensive, I thought I wasn’t going to be making turkey this year,” Casas said, adding that she is grateful to the sheriff’s office for providing the turkey.

Jennifer Garcia, 37, of Mercedes concurred. Smiling, she explained that the giveaway helped create memories.

“It’s a good feeling to know that my kids are going to have their Thanksgiving turkey and just have a family dinner together,” Gracia said.

Among the many vendors that evening was Elizabeth Medrano, 40, who “ran at the opportunity” to provide sweets and treats to those who attended the Harvest Fest.

Medrano, who runs a small business called Cakes by Bebet out of her home in Weslaco, said she spent nearly three days baking cupcakes in preparation for Wednesday’s event.

She said her goal was to provide 900 cupcakes, along with hot chocolate, for attendees.

The sheriff’s office wasn’t the only agency distributing turkeys this week. On Tuesday, Mission police, emergency and city officials distributed 100 turkeys to local families in need in that community.

Police chief Cesar Torres said Mission officers would also be stopping residents on Friday and distributing turkeys instead of traffic tickets.